In 1978, the Utah / US Film Festival, an annual cinematic exhibition, was created in Salt Lake City. During its early years, the Film Festival focused primarily on the presentation of retrospective films and filmmaker seminars. However, from its inception, the Film Festival featured a national competition aimed at drawing attention to emerging American films made outside the Hollywood system-independent cinema. The United States Film Festival moved to Park City, Utah in 1981 and included documentaries and short films along with its program of dramatic features.
In 1985, responding to the need for support from an organization that could provide year-round programming, administrative staffing, financial banking, and a network of contacts, the Film Festival added international films to its program and became part of the Sundance Institute. This institute, created and directed by Robert Redford, took as its original mission nurturing developing artists in a variety of disciplines and encouraging the independent spirit in both artists and their projects. Officially renamed in 1991, the Sundance Film Festival is now recognized internationally as a showcase for the best in new American independent film. After all Sundance has contributed sometimes in a decisive way to the launching of many notable filmmakers such as Jim Jarmusch, the Coen bothers, Tood Haynes, Steven Soderberg, Hal Hartley, Quentin Tarantino and Todd Solondz, among others.
This tribute to Sundance, the first Independent Hero of IndieLisboa, comprised a selection of films exhibited and premiered in the 2004 edition of this American festival. The programme included the presence of John Cooper, the Sundance programming director, who also conducted a masterclass in Lisbon about the festival?s long and rewarding association with independent cinema.
Feature Film
Brother To Brother, Rodney Evans
Down To The Bone, Debra Granik
Super Size Me, Morgan Spurlock
Tarnation, Jonathan Caouette
War, Jake Mahaffy
Short Films
Dysenchanted, Terri Edda Miller
Exit 8a, Margaret Harris
Flying, Hirofumi Nagaike
The Frank International Film Fest, Bob Odenkirk
Gowanus, Brooklyn Ryan Fleck E Anna Boden
Harvie Krumpet, Adam Elliot
Nibbles, Chris Hinton
It's Okay To Drink Whisky, Paul Williams
Papillon D'amour, Nicolas Provost
Pretty Dead Girl, Shawn Ku
Spokane, Larry Kennar
Tomo, Paul Catling
